Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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48. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider the possibility of allowing local communities decide the use of a small part of the ODA budget through a democratic consultation process in locations in which a well-structured aid programme is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37953/20]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Development co-operation needs to be people-centric and respond to national priorities. Promoting national ownership is one of the key principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. Ownership is the best strategy to guarantee that development investments succeed, and has the best opportunity of reaching the furthest behind first.

Ireland’s eleven Embassies in Sub Saharan Africa and our Embassy in Vietnam have responsibility for managing aid programmes. Each has a strong focus on ensuring that essential services including health, education, and social protection are targeted at those who are furthest behind in the poorest communities. Whilst not working directly at community level, the Missions allocate considerable resources to civil society organisations and associations. These organisations work closely with communities in service delivery as well as championing the rights of citizens.

A hallmark of many of Ireland’s partner organisations is the adoption of participatory approaches to working with communities. The Embassies consult and engage with partners regularly at the planning and implementation phases of their country strategy processes.

In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs continues to promote the vital role of civil society organisations in developing countries on the international stage- in the EU, the UN and OECD.

The 2020 Peer Review of Ireland’s development cooperation by the OECD Development Assistance Committee found that ‘a long-lasting commitment to engaging in partnerships is the trademark of Ireland's development co-operation', and that ‘partnerships with Irish and local civil society organisations (CSOs) are characterised by mutual trust and an open culture of substantive and regular dialogue.’

We expect our programme partners to continue to develop a dynamic relationship with local counterpart organisations and focus on building the local institutional capacity to work effectively with communities.